A team of Cornell University engineers and nutritionists with funding from the NIBIB have designed and tested a small, portable diagnostic system that can be used in the field to test blood for vitamin A and iron deficiencies.

Scientists at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) have combined two different microscope technologies to create sharper images of rapidly moving processes inside a cell.

A new study describes how an updated version of the microscope slide can enable scientists to see tiny objects while also measuring their temperature. The advancement, made possible by a new transparent, has the potential to streamline and enhance scientific research worldwide, from clandestine government biology labs to high school chemistry classes. It may also have implications in computers, electronics and other industries. Read more at the University at Buffalo News.

Precision cancer treatment relies on obtaining molecular information about the tumor to guide effective treatment decisions. Bioengineers have developed micro-technologies that capture extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by brain tumors. The vesicles carry samples of the mutated genetic material and proteins causing malignancy that researchers can analyze to optimize treatment.

Performing epidural and spinal anesthesia requires a good deal of training and being able to sense when the needle reaches the desired location. One issue is that a sonographer is usually required to operate the ultrasound while the anesthesiologist delivers the needle. Accuro, a new ultrasound device recently cleared by the FDA, offers capabilities that can alleviate a sonographer from having to help with epidurals and spinals. Read more

Biomedical engineers have developed a new technique for measuring blood flow in the human brain, which could be used in patients with stroke or traumatic brain injury, for example. The new technique, based on conventional digital camera technology, could be significantly cheaper and more robust than prior methods. Read more at UC Davis News.

In a groundbreaking new study, researchers used a customized, low-cost 3-D printer to print electronics on a real hand for the first time. The technology could be used by soldiers on the battlefield to print temporary sensors on their bodies to detect chemical or biological agents or solar cells to charge essential electronics. Read more at University of Minnesota News.

Medical researchers have designed a creative new approach to help injured hearts regenerate by applying extracellular vesicles secreted by cardiomyocytes rather than implanting the cells. The study shows that the cardiomyocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells (derived in turn from a small sample of blood) could be a powerful, untapped source of therapeutic microvesicles that could lead to safe and effective treatments of damaged hearts. Read more at Columbia University Engineering News.

The mission of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) is to improve health by leading the development and accelerating the application of biomedical technologies. The Institute is committed to integrating the physical and engineering sciences with the life sciences to advance basic research and medical care.